(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Djokovic, Sabalenka, Alcaraz Advance as Wimbledon Quarter-Finals Take Shape
LONDON – Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic booked his place in the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday with a hard-fought four-set win over Australia’s Alex de Minaur. Despite a slow start, the Serbian star rallied to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court.
The win marks Djokovic’s 101st career victory at Wimbledon, adding to the historic milestone he reached over the weekend as only the third player to record 100 wins at the tournament. The 38-year-old is chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title and could tie Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon men’s singles titles.
Next, Djokovic will face 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli of Italy, who stunned former finalist Marin Cilic in four sets. The 23-year-old Cobolli will be making his Grand Slam quarter-final debut.
Women’s Draw Sees New Faces in Final Eight
Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, a former Olympic gold medalist, reached her first Wimbledon quarter-final, defeating Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6(7/4), 6-4. It is Bencic’s first major quarter-final appearance since 2021.
In another strong performance, 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva (7th seed) overcame Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-3. Andreeva is through to her first Wimbledon quarter-final and will face Bencic next.
Also advancing was Liudmila Samsonova, who saw off Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro with a 7-5, 7-5 win.
Sabalenka, Alcaraz, and Norrie Survive Thrilling Rounds
On Sunday, top women’s seed Aryna Sabalenka moved into the quarter-finals with a straight-sets win over Elise Mertens, 6-4, 7-6(7/4), in an intense Centre Court battle. The Belarusian, who missed Wimbledon in 2022 due to political restrictions and in 2023 due to injury, now aims for her first Wimbledon crown.
Sabalenka will face Laura Siegemund, the 37-year-old German who defeated Solana Sierra 6-3, 6-2. Siegemund has made history by becoming the oldest woman to reach her first Wimbledon quarter-final.
In the men’s draw, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz continued his impressive run by defeating Andrey Rublev 6-7(5/7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. The Spaniard, seeded second, extended his winning streak to 22 matches and is aiming for his third straight Grand Slam title.
Alcaraz will face Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the last eight. Norrie, a 2022 Wimbledon semi-finalist, outlasted Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in a thrilling five-set match: 6-3, 7-6(7/4), 6-7(7/9), 6-7(5/7), 6-3.
Line-Calling Glitch Draws Attention
Wimbledon’s new automated line-calling system faced criticism after a notable malfunction during Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s win over Sonay Kartal. The error caused confusion on Centre Court but did not affect the final result.
More Names Join Quarter-Final Lineups
In other action, Taylor Fritz advanced after Australian opponent Jordan Thompson retired due to injury. Fritz will face Karen Khachanov, who defeated Kamil Majchrzak in straight sets.
In the women’s draw, American Amanda Anisimova (13th seed) reached the quarter-finals with a hard-earned 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Linda Noskova.
With several veterans and rising stars moving forward, the Wimbledon quarter-finals are set to deliver world-class action, historic milestones, and memorable moments for tennis fans around the world.
